Overhead traveling carrier



July 12, 1949. F. P. BAERTSCHI 2,475,534

OVERHEAfi TRAVELING CARRIER Filed Oct. 24, 1945 v I/lril Patented July12, 1949 UNITED STATES O FFICE OVERHEAD TRAVELING, CARRIER- Fred P.Baertschi, Rockford; Ill.v

Application October 24, 1951.5, Serial N0. 624,308

Claims. 1

This invention relates; generally to overhead: traveling carriers;although it is herein disclosed as applied to hay carriers, for use inunloading hay from a hay-rack-andf hoisting it to the loft anddepositing it; there at the desired, placeor places Complicatedandexpensive rigs have been devised heretbfore for-this simple operation,usually designed and." intended to. be driven by a stationaryengine oroff. the power takeoff of a tractor; Obviously,,suchrigsrequired.aninvolved system of cables with windlasses andclutches andcontrol-leversand called for a fairly high degree of skill to operatesuccessfully, and hence the average farmer hasnot-looked-with.favor onthese devices and mostfarmers have continued to, unlfoad hay in the slowand, laborious hand method with pit-chforks, Rural, electrificationhasbecome so. commonnow thatthe use of'el'ectrio, power forsuch work isclearly indicated. It. is therefore the principal, object ofmy inventionto provide an electric, motor operated hay carrier. of; simple,practical, and, economical construction.

A salientfeature of the hay carrier of my in.- vention isthe mounting ofa holstfdrum in acarriage having gear-toothed" rollers running onperforated tracks as racks,,the tracks extending. the full length of theloft in the peak portion of the roof, andjthe rollers being driven ineither direction by one reversible electric motor under remote controlof the operator fromthe floor off the loft, and the hoist;,drum beingdriven inv either direction, by another reversible electric motor, underremote control, of, the, operator from the. same point each mQtOIt,having forward and, 118?" vfersejbuttons for controlithereof;

Another object is. to provide. the tra-cksin. parallelrelationjsuspended oninverted U-shaped. hangers, thetracks being rnadefrom, angle irons, for economy, one flange beingperforatedfor rack,teeth and. the, other flange. projecting. upwardly;

at right anglesffor fastening tov the hangers,

which are also preferably made of bent angle iron. pieces one flangebeing secured to, the track pieces and th other fla e. p o ect upwar lyfor fastening, suitable hanger] means, thereon,

where, that flange, is notuseddirectly to. fasten t the, rafters.

Still another objectistoprovide asubstantially fully enclosedzcarrierunit with they two, motors, mountedtherein in a comnact arrangement, one

aboye. and the otherb'elow, the, sameslmport, thus.

avoiding the depositing, of. "dirt, in, the motors, and.

also reducing fire hazard, IZhe mountingv of; an.

electrical extension cord on eyelets slidable on a wire st-rung inparallel relation to the tracks and arranged'tobe stretched out andgathered together inthe back and forth movements of the carrieris alsowith a view to avoiding the fire hazard which would otherwisebe-entailed with a sliding contact or brush that would be apt to causesparks.

The invention is illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawing in which Fig. 1is a view on a small scale of a hay loft showing my improved hay carrierand track structure and extension cord support therefor; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectionon a largerscale through thecarriage; Fig. 3 is across section on the same scale-through the carriage and tracks, on1ine3-3- of Fig. 2, and. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on line-4'-4 ofFig. 2.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts in theseviews.

Referring first to-Fig. 1, thenumeral 5 designates the hay carrier orcarriage appearing in Figs. 2-to 4; with a hay-fork 6 carried on the endof-t'he hoistingoable 1' and arranged to be tripped from the floor 8 ofthe loft inthe usual way by a pull on the rope 9 =to deposit the hay H!at whatever place desired. The carriage 5 runs on an elevated supportingtrack structure H which extends preferably lengthwise of the loft in thepeak of the roof and is suitably secured to or suspended from therafters. The electric motors in-thecarriage 5*, numbered I2 and IS inFigs. 2

to l, aresupplied with electric current from a plug l4 inserted ina wallsocket through a flexible extension cord 15 which is strung by means ofeyelets l6 on a tight wire I! that is stretched in the loft from end toend inparallel relation to the track structure II; A :control panel I8is connected to the cord 15 and has suitable push buttons 19 to close,normally open switches in the panel for selective operation of themotors l2 and 13' in eitherdirection, as desired. This panel I'B'may beportable or; attached to the wall 20, whichever-is preferred by theoperator, and it is clear that the rope 9- should be long enough toreach to wherever the operatorstands while running the carriage- 5'sothat when the carriage hasautomatic overload circuit breaker (notshown)" opens, the, circuitso, that no harm is done to motor12;,1ikewise ifany overloading of motor I3 occurs in connection,with thehoisting operation. The

track ll preferably extends out on a beam extending from the barn overthe loft door so that the fork B can be lowered directly onto thehayrack for easy pickup of hay thereon. It requires no skill to controlthe movements of the carriage 5 because it is only necessary to depressone button [9 for travel in one direction and another for travel in theopposite direction; likewise for up and down movement of the fork 6.Furthermore it is a simple matter to install the track and carriage inany barn loft and the invention is usable wherever the barn has beenwired for electric service.

The carriage comprises a housing 2| formed by separable upper and lowersections 22 and 23. The top Wall 24 of the lower section provides asupport on the top thereof for motor l2 and on the bottom of theupwardly offset end portion 25 for motor l3. This makes for greatcompactness, as appears in Fig. 2, the worm 26 on the armature shaft 27of motor [3 being closely beneath the wall 24 under motor 12. Bearings28 carried by wall 24 support the worm at opposite ends so that a goodmeshing engagement with worm gear 29 is assured, regardless of possibleslight misalignment of motor l3 relative to the worm. The same is trueof worm 30 on armature shaft iii of motor I2 which is carried inbearings 32 projecting upwardly from wall 25, worm 30 meshing with aWorm gear 34. Now, worm gear 34 is carried on cross-shaft 35 mounted inbearings 36 on wall 24 and keyed to gear-toothed rollers 37 at itsopposite ends. These rollers run on spaced parallel tracks II in whichholes 38 are punched to serve as racks. The motor l 2, being reversible,therefore provides for positive drive of the carriage 5 in eitherdirection. Other rollers 39 mounted on the other end of the carriage runon the same tracks II and serve to support that end of the carriage.

The worm gear 29 is keyed on another cross shaft 493 mounted in bearings4| in the side walls of the lower housing section, said shaft alsohaving a pinion 42 keyed thereon near one end for transmitting drive toa hoisting drum 43 by meshing engagement with a gear 44 fixed on one endthereof, said drum and gear being freely rotatable with a cross shaft 45mounted in bearings it in the side Walls of the lower housing section.An inturned flange 41' on one side Wall of the lower housing sectionencloses and protects the gear 44, as indicated in Fig. 3. It is clearthat the symmetrical arrangement of the supporting and driving rollers3'! and 39 relative to the housing 2| makes for smooth and easyoperation. The tracks H are far enough apart to allow easy travel of thehousing therebetween, and this arrangement insures proper meshing of thegear teeth on rollers 3'! in the holes 38 at all times. Any dirtcollecting on the tracks H will have an opportunity to drop through theholes 38 or be forced through by the gear teeth so that the rollers 31and 39 will always run smoothly thereon.

The tracks ll being made from pieces of angle iron are not apt to getcrooked and will not bend readily under load. Furthermore, the upwardlyprojecting flanges 41 on these members can be welded or otherwisesecured easily to the flanges d8 of other angle iron yokes or hangers 69that are bent to inverted U-shape. The outwardly projecting flanges ofthese angle iron hangers are easily secured to rafters or may havestrips 5! fastened thereto for fastening to the rafters. Obviously, theflanges 50 give the necessary rigidity to the hangers so that the tracksI! will re- 4 main a predetermined distance apart as required for easyoperation of the carriage 5, and the U-shape of the hangers is ofadvantage in providing head-room for the upper housing section 22,which, as shown in Fig. .3, is arched to snugly enclose the motor [2.Screws 52 fasten the housing sections together. Rollers 31 and 39 aremounted between the side walls of the housing 25 and the side walls ofthe cover 22, as appears in Figs. 3 and 4, thus reducing likelihood ofhay or any litter interfering with the easy operation of these rollers.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims havebeen drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. In a hay handling apparatus, the combination of an overhead track, apower operable carrier running on said track, a power operable hoistdrum on said carrier, a hay fork suspended on a cable wound on said drumand openable by remote control by a rope extending downwardly from thefork, two reversible electric motors on said carrier, one associatedwith drive means on the carrier for back and forth movement thereof onsaid track, and the other associated with drive means for the drum toraise and lower the fork, a. supporting guide wire extending parallel tosaid track, a source of electric current sup ply, a flexible extensioncord for conducting electric current to said motors on said carrier fromsaid current source suspended on said guide wire at longitudinallyspaced points by guide members movable freely along said guide wire, anda manually operable remote control switch means connected between saidextension cord and said current source for remote control of saidmotors.

2. In a traveling carrier, the combination of an overhead track formedby a pair of closely laterally spaced parallel angle iron members havinginwardly directed longitudinal flanges and upwardly directedlongitudinal flanges, inverted U- shaped suspension yokes connected tosaid upwardly projecting flanges, a carriage comprising an elongatedhousing narrow enough to operate between the rails and disposed betweenthe inwardly directed flanges and having wheels mounted on oppositesides thereof running on said last mentioned flanges, a reversibleelectric motor enclosed in said housing and associated with drive meansconnected to at least one pair of said wheels to drive the sameselectively in either direction for back and forth movement of thecarriage on said track, remote control means for said motor, a hoistdrum rotatablymounted in said housing having a cable wound thereon forsuspendin a load attaching member, a reversible electric motor alsoenclosed in said housing and associated with drive means connected tosaid drum to turn the same selectively in either direction, and remotecontrol means for said last mentioned motor.

3. In a traveling carrier, the combination of an overhead track formedby a pair of laterally spaced parallel angle iron members havinginwardly directed longitudinal flanges and upwardly directedlongitudinal flanges, suspension yokes connected to said upwardlyprojecting flanges, a carriage disposed between the inwardly directedflanges having wheels mounted on opposite sides thereof running on saidlast mentioned flanges, a reversible electric motor associated.

with drive means connected to at leastone pair of said Wheels to drivethe same selectively in either-direction for back and forth movement ofin said carriage having a Leable wound thereon for suspending a loadattaching member, areversible electric motor associated with drive meansconnected to said drum to turn the same selectively in either direction,and remote control means for said last mentioned motor, at least one ofthe inwardly directedflanges having gear teeth holes provided therein inlongitudinally spaced relation and at least one of the driven pair ofwheels having rad ally projecting gear teeth arranged to mesh in saidholes for positive driving of the carriage. I

' a 4. In a portable carrier, the combination of a housing containing ahoist drum rotatably mounted therein in the lower portion thereof, across-shaft mounted in said housing above said drum carrying a pinionmeshing with a gear on said drum to drive the same, a worm gear on saidcross-shaft, a reversible electric motor mounted in, saidv housing onone side of and above the cross-shaft driving a worm meshing with theworm gear, another reversible electric motor mounted in said housingdirectly above the worm, a cross-shaft in said housing above the firstmentioned cross-shaft and on the opposite side thereof from the firstmotor having drive wheels mounted on the opposite ends thereof outsidethe housing, a worm gear on said last named crossshaft driven by a wormdriven by the second motor, and another pair of wheels mounted on saidhousing in the vicinitypf the first mentioned motor and in longitudinalalignment with the first mentioned wheels.

5. In a portable carrier, the combination of a substantiallytriangular-shaped housing having opposed triangular-shaped side Wallsand a top wall connecting the side walls, a hoist drum rotatably mountedin the lower apex portion of said triangular housing between said sidewalls, a cross-shaft above said drum mounted in the side walls having apinion thereon meshing with a gear on said drum to drive the same, aworm gear on said cross-shaft, a reversible electric motor mounted onthe bottom of the top wall on one side of said cross-shaft and above thesame, a worm driven by said motor meshing with said worm gear, a secondreversible electric motor mounted on top of said top wall, a cross-shaftmounted in the upper portion of said housing above the first cross-shaftand on the opposite side thereof from the first motor and carrying drivewheels on the opposite ends thereof outside the housing, a worm gear onsaid last named cross-shaft, and a worm driven by the second motormeshing with the worm gear.

6. In a hay handling apparatus, the combination of an overhead trackformed by two closely spaced parallel rails, a power operable carrierrunning on said track, said carrier comprising an elongated housingnarrow enough to operate between said rails, rollers on opposite sidesof said housing at opposite ends thereof running on said rails, and atop cover member disposed over and protecting said rollers from hay andlitter, a power operable hoist drum in said housing, a hay forksuspended on a cable wound on said drum and openable by remote controlby a rope extending downwardly from the fork, two reversible electricmotors in said housing in longitudinally spaced relationship to oneanother, one associated with drive means in the housing connected tocertain of the rollers for back and forth movement thereof on saidrails, and the other associated with drive means for the drum to raiseand lower the fork, and manually operable remote control means forsaidmotors.

7. In a hay carrier, the combination of an overhead track formed by apair of closely laterally spaced parallel angle iron members havinginwardly directed longitudinal flanges and upwardly directedlongitudinal flanges, inverted U shaped suspension 'yokes connected tosaid upwardly projecting flanges, a carriage comprising an elongatedhousing narrow enough to operate between said track members disposedbetween the inwardly directed flanges and having wheels mounted onopposite sides thereof running on said last mentioned flanges, areversible electric motor carried on said housing and associated withdrive means connected to at least one pair of said wheels to drive thesame selectively in either direction for back and forth movement of thecarriage on said track, a top cover for said housing enclosing the upperportions of said wheels and also said motor to protect the same from hayand litter, remote control means for said motor, a hoist drum rotatablymounted in said carriage having a cable wound thereon for suspending ahay fork, a reversible electric motor enclosed in said housing andassociated with drive means connected to said drum to turn the sameselectively in either direction, and remote control means for said lastmentioned motor.

8. In a hay carrier, the combination of an overhead track formed by apair of laterally spaced parallel angle iron members having inwardlydirected longitudinal flanges and upwardly directed longitudinalflanges, suspension yokes connected to said upwardly projecting flanges,a carriage disposed between the inwardly directed flanges having wheelsmounted on opposite sides thereof running on said last mentionedflanges, a reversible electric motor on said carriage associated withdrive means connected to at least one pair of said wheels to drive thesame selectively in either direction for back and forth movement of thecarriage on said track, a top cover for said carriage enclosing theupper portions of said wheels and also said motor to protect the samefrom hay and litter, remote control means for said motor, a hoist drumrotatably mounted in said carriage having a cable wound thereon forsuspending a hay fork, a reversible electric motor on said carriageassociated with drive means connected to said drum to turn the sameselectively in either direction, and remote control means for said lastmentioned motor, at least one of the inwardly directed flanges havingear teeth holes provided therein in longitudinally spaced relation andat least one of the driven pair of wheels having radially projectinggear teeth arranged to mesh in said holes for positive driving of thecarriage.

9. In a portable carrier, the combination of a housing containing ahoist drum rotatably mounted therein in the lower portion thereof, across-shaft mounted in said housing above said drum carrying a pinionmeshing with a gear on said drum to drive the same, a worm gear on saidcross-shaft, a reversible electric motor mounted in said housing on oneside of and above the cross-shaft driving a worm meshing with the wormgear, another reversible electric motor mounted in said housing directlyabove the worm, a cross-shaft in said housing above the first mentionedcross-shaft and on the opposite side thereof from the first motor havingdrive wheels mounted on the opposite ends thereof outside the tions ofsaid wheels.

10. In a portable carrier, the combination of a substantiallytriangular-shaped housing having opposed triangular-shaped side wallsand. a top wall connecting the side walls, a hoist drum rotatablymounted in the lower apex portion of said triangular housing betweensaid side walls, a cross-shaft above said drum mounted in the side wallshaving a pinion thereon meshing with a gear on said drum to drive thesame, a worm gear on said cross-shaft, a reversible electric motormounted on the bottom of the top wall on one side of said cross-shaftand above the same, a worm driven by said motor meshing with said wormgear, a second reversible electric motor mounted on top of said topwall, a cross-shaft mounted in the upper portion of said housing abovethe first cross-shaft and on the opposite side thereof from the firstmotor and carrying drive wheels on the opposite ends thereof outside thehousing, a worm gear on said last named cross-shaft, a worm driven bythe second motor meshing with the worm gear, and a top cover for saidhousing enclosing said second motor and the upper portions of saidwheels.

FRED P. BAERTSCHI.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 560,145 McGehee May 12, 1896580,415 Miller Apr. 13, 1897 884,595 Libby Apr. 14, 1908 981,820 TrueJan. 17, 1911 1,047,944 Howland Dec. 24, 1912 1,694,084 Straight Dec. 4,1928 2,006,871 Neuman July 2, 1935 2,254,083 Nickles et a1 Aug. 26, 19412,391,881

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